A very good morning Leroy! Sounds like you have been doing your PT and the blood is circulating in that brain of yours pretty rapidly. I could not agree with you more!
I have taken particular notice of those drug ads also. I find that OUR doctor has a strange attitude toward his patients anyway so I wouldn't DARE ask him about anything we saw on TV. He has even cast disparaging remarks about my husband's Urologist and his prescribing, although HE is the one who told him to see a Urologist. Yes, we ARE looking for a new Family Care Physician but that is not an easy task.
Something is very wrong with the Medical Systems in this Country and I am in great fear being old in these times. Greed has taken over and we are now just something on the Butcher's scale I'm afraid.
I have stopped most of the drugs I was prescribed last year when I had my "little stroke" and I seem to be doing well by taking care of myself. Our pocket-book is as well. Time will tell, won't it? You know your own body,or you did before they remodeled it, keep questioning Leroy and and we shall join your ranks!

Sent by J C R | 7:34 AM ET | 04-07-2008

Very true Leroy....

During the less then a week my father was under the care of hospice, let me tell you about the drugs that came into his place. GOOD GRIEF! I could have gotten rich selling them on the street. There were narcotics for pain, agitation, patches for pain, enemas for an impaction and constipation (suddenly we were going to worry about that), suppositories for nausea, fever, more for agitation. Pills, liquids, and transdermal patches. Saturday the 29 a pharmacy pickup... Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday a fedex delivery and a pharmacy pick up. You know how much was used. 2-4 pain patches, 1 ativan for agitation and anxiety, and 2ml of Morphine and that was all.

Do you think, we prepared for the long haul... thankfully that wasn't the case, REALLY. It was almost funny for the man who only took one prescribed pill regularly....

Sent by Sue Chap | 8:01 AM ET | 04-07-2008

You've hit on one of my pet peeves. The drug companies always place the high cost of prescription medication on the cost of doing research and testing for new drugs. But why are they spending MILLIONS advertising on TV? I can understand they need to spend money getting the information out to doctors, but for us to bear the cost of advertising to potential patients really ticks me off -- not to mention that the ads are annoying. On the one hand, the drug companies want to be considered part of the scientific/medical community and on the other hand they're pushing the little purple pill and trying to convince us that our happiness lies in their cure for ED. I'm just glad my kids are grown so I don't have to explain what some of the ads are talking about!

Sent by Brenda | 8:13 AM ET | 04-07-2008

Good a.m. Leroy! I agree with you. I would caution however, that sometimes the "pros" are rewarded for prescribing certain drugs to their patients. I suppose it all comes down to trusting your physician to do the right thing. Oh, and about those ads -I have a rule - I change the channel for all drug, car and furniture commercials. Enough already! Hope today finds you well Leroy! Take good care.

Sent by J. Ford | 8:14 AM ET | 04-07-2008

What's really scary is that some doctors are picking out your medications because of the freebies or kick backs that they are getting from the pharm companies. It is a messy situation. I used to work for a drug company and I have mixed feelings for them. I do argee that some of these commercials seem irresponsible, but I try to think that part of the pharm companies motivation is to inform the consumer on what is actually out there. It encourages you to actually have a dialogue with your doctor instead of just blindly following them. Knowledge is power and honestly the only person looking out for you is you. Only you ultimately know what is best for you and the better informed you are about it the better off you are.

Sent by jen barad | 8:32 AM ET | 04-07-2008

Leroy,
I totally agree. It's an industry, that is for sure. At the end of the day, it is marketing...of course, there are meds that do help people...but that can be overshadowed by big business.

Sent by Kathleen, NJ | 8:47 AM ET | 04-07-2008

You are so right Leroy. Americans love drugs. I recently spent two weeks out of the country and didn???t see one commercial for a four hour boner, toe nail fungus, or restless leg syndrome. Sally Field was nowhere to be seen. Let the pros decide what you really need and don???t bother with the rest of the crap. Unless of course you can???t crap and then there is a pill for that.
It's a sunny day here in Rochester, I hope it is where you are too.

Sent by Sue in Rochester NY | 9:05 AM ET | 04-07-2008

Leroy,
I have finished laughing now. In one of the postings today, someone said it was a pet-peeve of theirs. Mine too. It is a joke between my husband and I, what drug should we run to and ask our Doctor about getting right away.
And it seems to me that given the list of things which preclude you from taking this drug..."Do not take if you have.....", then who can really take them. They tell you the drug is a "must have", then site every medical "thing" that it could interact with. Oh please. I do understand the importance of drug companies, and research. I do! But I am to the place where I really wonder if anyone knows really, what the drugs can do! Anyway, I just took my morning drugs. That handful of drugs that I down every morning. So, am I helping me, or supporting the industry!
Prayers, Blessings and May The Grace Of
God Be With You.
Wanda Amorose

Sent by Wanda Amorose | 9:12 AM ET | 04-07-2008

Oh, the irony...

This blog has revisited on many occasions, the question of serious side effects as a tradeoff to fight against cancer.

How strange and horrible to have another disease, so serious, that "causing cancer" - or more precisely, increasing the risk of cancer - might be viewed as a reasonable bet.

Sent by emile | 9:19 AM ET | 04-07-2008

My husband's nightly statement..."OK, where's the remote? Gotta hit the mute button again." He hates those drug ads especially the ones for, well, ED. Embarrasses him to no end!

There are just too many of these drug ads. It's ridiculous. And yes, you're right. There are disorders created just so medication has a market. I had a doctor tell me once that a certain new medication had new "disorder" that went along with it. It was some kind of severe form of PMS. He was horrified that the pharmaceutical companies could get away with things like that but they absolutely do. Buyer(and user)beware.

Sent by Linnea | 9:27 AM ET | 04-07-2008

If you read the back of a bottle of Tylenol you will never take another.

As always, prayers to all.

Sent by Sasha | 9:45 AM ET | 04-07-2008

I don't even want to remember what those agitation pills and the sleeping pill did to Neil, the pain patch that kept getting stronger but had no effect other than more weakness and mental confusion. When we stopped it all, he was able to come back to us for a short time. It was awful! We trusted the doctors to give him the right things and I think they were more confused. For some reason, the ibuprofen would make him sweat and his temp would drop way low...no one could give me an answer as to why...Its all a crap shoot! Sometimes they hit the mark, other times they missed.
I crack up over the Viva Viva Viagra!!!

Sent by Laurie Hirth | 9:49 AM ET | 04-07-2008

One of my favorite lines from those commercials is "tell your doctor if you are having surgery." Gee, I would hope my doctor would know that.

I had a concern about a high priced anemia drug and talked to my doctor about lowering the order for it until my hemoglobin dropped to below 10 rather than 12. It turns out that is one of the drugs that there were "incentives" to prescribe and the side effects could be lethal. I don't mind risking my life for chemo drugs that could do add time but I don't want to risk my life to avoid being tired.

Keep fighting the good fight!

Sent by Dona | 9:50 AM ET | 04-07-2008

I have a friend who lives in the UK and he can't believe all the drug ads on t.v. when he sees them on his visits here. In England they don't have those ads, not that he sees anyway. There is after all free health care over there, so why advertise drugs? Big difference.

Sent by Jenn | 9:50 AM ET | 04-07-2008

Hi Leroy,

The sad part about these pharma ads is that they are mostly for products that duplicate older standard products, without much improvement to be offered. What I find particularly offensive is that it mirrors the priorities of the companies to invest in sure money-makers, rather than new cures for significant disease. I also know someone who was a pharma rep for some time just out of college. He quit, but not before he gave some of us insight into the huge amounts of money spent tracking what every doctor prescribes, how often, his entertainment budget, and the reward systems. I am led to conclude that this pales in comparison to the profits!

To Nancy Clarke, glad to see your post on Friday. I was wondering about you. There must be a psychic connection among all of us.

To Ruth White, I'm sending prayers for successful surgery and recovery. I am so sorry for this setback. If there is someone who can let us know how you are doing post-op, please ask them to post.

Sent by Sheara | 9:53 AM ET | 04-07-2008

Do drug companies get tax write offs for advertising? Maybe that is part of the escalating health costs. What a waste.

Sent by Irene | 9:59 AM ET | 04-07-2008

Yeah, the side effects they whip through at the end of those ads vary widely; from massively serious to massively embarrassing (unexpected/noisy digestive upsets, etc.). It does seem to be bordering on ridiculous. Give 'em time, and I bet you they'll come up with a drug to try and take care of that, too!

Sent by Karen Laven | 10:08 AM ET | 04-07-2008

Brenda, how I wish my kid was a bit older so I didn't have to explain the commercials. At least he hasn't taken to singing the "Viva" jingle although he has recited that "women who are pregnant or could become pregnant should not take V". Well they better not be taking it.

Seriously, TV would be so much better with out the drug ads, the car insurance ads, ... And why does everything have to be so violent?

And why are the only ads that tell you what the drugs are for are the ED ads?

Guess we'll limit our tv viewing to C-SPAN :)

Sent by Marie | 10:27 AM ET | 04-07-2008

Leory,
You hit a nerve today. The ads get to me, too. I particularly love the E.D. ads. It must be fun for parents to try to explain these to their children. Fortunately, I am only taking a couple of RX drugs now for old bones and high blood pressure. I have become leary of the new miracle drugs because so many have been found to have major side effects not known or considered when the drugs came out. When I go to the doctor I take my Sam's Club or Wal Mart $4.00 RX list. If he thinks I need some medication I pull out the list and ask "Will any of these generics do the job?". At least these drugs have been on the market a long time and should not have unpleasant surprises associated with them.
I hope you are having Spring where you live. The sun is out here today and is very welcome.
Charlotte in Rural Ridge, PA

Sent by Charlotte Kewish | 10:35 AM ET | 04-07-2008

So glad to hear you talking about this! The cost of the ads, the concept that consumers should demand them from their doctors (studies show that doctors go along with it to keep their patients happy!)the "disease of the week" marketing, it's all sick and wrong and contributes to our country's tragically wrong health care system. Meanwhile, people like me who lose their insurance are cut off from Medicaid because states'can't afford to cover anyone who gets SSDI disability while we wait the two years to qualify for Medicare. My prospects to live for two years are so small, that it's just a joke! Seems the plan is that so many of us die off waiting that it saves the gov a lot of money so they can afford to pay top dollar for the drugs.

Sent by PattiB | 10:36 AM ET | 04-07-2008

It has been a year today and I still have a cabinet full of Leon's meds--somehow I just haven't found the strength to get rid of them. I know, I need to do it today!
So what do I do today? I couldn't go to work. My son called early to tell me to go spend money today--he knows me well. But I think I will spend the day doing Leon's things--raking and burning leaves, mowing the yard, cleaning out his shop, etc. He really is still with me and I think he would like that. The house cleaning can wait!
Hang in there, Leroy. Each day I think of you and Laurie,
Jane

Sent by Jane from Arkansas | 10:57 AM ET | 04-07-2008

As we have said before too many ads especially drugs on TV. TV is a wasteland,and now their are ads on the internet. Too much money for marketing. But we are captive. Gods grace be with you.

Sent by Hal | 11:00 AM ET | 04-07-2008

Great point, Leroy! This insidious marketing to the public of new, often inadequated tested drugs, by the drug companies should be ended. It is a dangerous practice which mainly benefits the companies and doctors who profit from it.

Read Dr. Marcia Angell's book "The Truth About the Drug Companies: How They Deceive Us and What to Do About it", if you want to know more.

Sent by Marilyn | 11:14 AM ET | 04-07-2008

My favorite advertises a drug for Restless Legs Syndrome that can cause an increase in gambling and sexual activity. Does that come with a free airline ticket to Vegas?

Most pharmaceutical websites have the physician prescribing information online. It's much more comprehensive than the glossy patient brochures. Even if you don't understand all the medspeak, it's worth wading through.

Hope everyone has a sunny day today.

Sent by Patte | 11:21 AM ET | 04-07-2008

Leroy:

Drugs--they can be marketed so much it makes me personally want to vomit... they have dinners, lunches, and random things galore for doctors...

There was a great NY Times article about the ethics of advertising drugs and how to influence physicians recently...

Some doctors refuse to oblige, where others want the free goodies whether it be pens, lunches, or other forms of 'persuasion'... don't know if it works to prescribing the drug however..

Keep well Leroy!
Ugh.

Sent by Krupali Tejura MD | 11:28 AM ET | 04-07-2008

Hey Leroy,

My mother claims you can tell your age by the number of pharmaceutical ads shown during your favorite TV program.

I suspect anyone who is a patient or works in the medical field tends to notice those ads more than the general population. She's a nurse. A couple of years ago she and my father went to a Halloween party dressed as Detrol LA (green/blue sweat suit) and he work a t-shirt listing the side effects (headache, constipation and abdominal pain). They were a hit! Maybe this Halloween you could wear a t-shirt listing all of the side effects of all of your meds? SCARY!

Peace, Joan Marie

Sent by Joan Marie | 11:51 AM ET | 04-07-2008

Leroy and all,
Check out this book review from yesterday's Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/03/AR2008040303377.html
OUR DAILY MEDS
How the Pharmaceutical Companies Transformed Themselves into Slick Marketing Machines and Hooked the Nation on Prescription Drugs
It describes the transformation of Big Pharma into a marketing machine. That's why you're seeing all these ads for prescription drugs that treat conditions that can be treated with over the counter drugs.

Sent by Dianne (DC) | 11:56 AM ET | 04-07-2008

After waiting for my costly new-on-the-market prescription to be filled and approved by insurance, I couldn't help but wonder why it had to cost so much. When I ran across several inside front cover and back cover ads in the "CURE" and "Women & Cancer", I immediately figured it out...they have to pay for those ads as well as commercials! Not to mention there aren't generics available for it yet! What a racket we're in!!

Sent by Leslie | 12:13 PM ET | 04-07-2008

Leroy,

I was awake at 3:00AM again last night. Do you know what was on? Crap! 200 channels of crap! A lot of it was paid for by the drug companies. These commercials are a very expensive way to say nothing. My English teacher told me that if you have nothing to say, you shouldn't say it. This is good advice for everyone, but especially for Marketers, Politicians, and Pundits. This simple suggestion could lead to a less costly and less raucous world. -then what would we talk about?

Sent by Gary | 12:51 PM ET | 04-07-2008

You hit a nerve today and you are right on. The pharmacy industry is so corrupt and we in this country take the brunt. Talk about being overdue for a health care system overhaul(and I've been in it for 40 yrs). I hope you are feeling better this week!

Sent by Susan | 1:07 PM ET | 04-07-2008

Hi Leroy,
You're so right about the tv drug, medical, commercials. It's got to where people just go in to a doctor and tell them what they want.
Since I've written to you last, just in the past 4 days or so, I'm having much pain in bones. My doc talked to me about possibly considering NOT continuing chemo as this is the 7th, I think, kind I'll be taking. It's a new one called IXEMPRA. Every heard of it?
Are you taking chemo now? I've been off chemo for about 2 months to let my body rest. I dread going back into that foggy nothing of a world, the world of chemo. He says what I've had has not stopped the fast growth of tumors in my bones. Recalling, I started with breast cancer, then in bones , then liver which is stable at this time. My last scan showed that the tumors in bones have gotten much larger and more numerous, especially in the femore bones. My upper shoulders from the shoulder then covering the muscle part of the upper arm is unbelievable with weakness and pain also. Tumors in spine, and pelvic areas as well. I read of all the things you have done and yet no one talks of doing anything for me. Makes me wonder why not. I read you and see hints of the old you coming back since your last hospital stay. Great to have you back. You can write me privately any old time and trust it'll be private. Have a great day! My little grandson I'm always talking about, Ronan, we call him "Bubs" is 6 mo. now. What an age ...constant intertainment for all of us. My fear, one of them, is I won't last to help take care of "Bubs" for the three years it's going to take for my son to get thru Sac state college. He's a working dad, watches "Bubs" until his mommy comes home from work.

Sent by Linda | 1:51 PM ET | 04-07-2008

Ruth White: Good luck with surgery.

Nancy GM and Al: I look forward to your comments. I haven't heard "scanxiety" previously. Hope you have good results.

Sent by Bob A. | 2:33 PM ET | 04-07-2008

Dear Ruth White:

Blessings. I am another silent reader of this blog. You have given me more encouragement than you can imagine in the last year as you've commented on surgery and recovery and life. I wish you good health, easier days ahead and calm. Your friend, Barbara

Sent by barb | 2:56 PM ET | 04-07-2008

Some of today's comments are laugh-out-loud funny; i.e., Patte's Restless Leg Syndrom drug leading to "gambling and sexual activity", and Joan Marie's parents winning a Halloween contest by going as Detrol and side effects. This is Saturday Night Live stuff at its most bizarre...if only it weren't true!! What I want to know is who opened the floodgates? Was it our illustrious pro-corporations Supreme Court, or was it our K-streeted politicians? As we use to say about the Lawerence Welk show, "Turn off the bubble machine".
Sometimes I think the Drug companies are in cahoots with other large corporations, so the sleeping aid drugs are "in bed" with the mattress folks. Maybe it's the weather here in the PNW.but we have those green butterflies all over the place, only to be followed by, "It's not too late to sleep like a baby" mattress ads. Are we 'Sleepless in Seattle' or what!
How did all of this get started? Anyone know?

Cathi

Sent by Cathi | 4:09 PM ET | 04-07-2008

Leroy,
I check in about every 2 months so see how you are doing. As you said, hanging in there. I am glad to see that you and the cancer are still there duking it out. It gives me hope for any potential fight I might have to battle. You may not wish it, but you have become a hero to many, many folks who are fighting this battle.

Bless you and bless your family.

Sent by Joan M. Doyle | 4:26 PM ET | 04-07-2008

P.S. An afterthought: the Viagra and the mattress ads seem pretty cosy too. Hmmm!

Conspiracy Theorist Cathi

Sent by Cathi | 4:35 PM ET | 04-07-2008

If laughter helps, as Norman Cousins claimed, then today's postings should fix a few things.

Sent by N. Holmes | 5:25 PM ET | 04-07-2008

Dear Leroy,
You have made me laugh today! How am I supposed to ask my doctor about medications when I don't know what they are for? Why the secrecy? There was one with a guy throwing a football through a tire swing. We thought it was for ED. Wrong! It was athritis! And how do they get those tubs filled with water? And wouldn't it be better if you had ED if you were in the tub with someone rather than being in separate tubs. Just some things to think about!

Sent by Mary C. | 5:42 PM ET | 04-07-2008

Until today, I thought I must be the only one annoyed by all the expensive advertising that the drug companies are putting out there. Why isn't that money going into research, or maybe even lessening the cost for those who can't afford them?! I don't know about everyone else, but I don't tell my doctor what I want her to prescribe --- she makes that decision. I don't get it!

Sent by Marilyn Trujillo | 6:14 PM ET | 04-07-2008

Here is a funny pharmaceutical 'ad' from a recent Saturday Night Live http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/play.shtml?mea=221774

p.s. - Treat yourself to a DVR (TiVo etc- most cable companies have them available) I have not seen a commercial since we got ours!

Sent by Jeanne | 7:08 PM ET | 04-07-2008

Well yes Leroy, you certainly hit a nerve today. Do you get the feeling that most of us are discontent, suspicious and sick and tired of being conned by the very Country we used to love and trust? What a pity! I am glad that my husband and I are as old as we are and just may get a chance to leave this world with some dignity. What kind of system would rip off it's working, lower class citizens for a society where Wealth and Greed are all that matters?
We still have a great many intelligent, thinking people here but they do not get a chance to rise to the top anymore.
Leroy, thank you for being there!

Sent by J C R | 8:00 PM ET | 04-07-2008

I wonder how it happened that drug companies got to advertise on tv. It never used to be that way. Most people get bummed by them. Sending love to you Leroy, Laurie and all my blogger friends.

Sent by Paulette | 8:36 PM ET | 04-07-2008

Be VERY afraid, Leroy. The "pros" you're referring to are "educated" by the pharmaceutical companies. It's just on a different "channel" that you don't have access to. And instead of the pros paying for the education, in many cases it's the other way around --the drug companies are paying the pros to be "educated" at fancy "conferences" in far away places like Hawaii, Barbados, other lush Carrabbean Isles, opulent cruises and the like. Be very afraid, Leroy.

As for your cholesterol drug and cholesterol level, Big Pharma hopes you don't find out about the cholesterol myth -- that most heart attacks and strokes are not happening to people with high cholesterol. They need you to keep taking it -- for THEIR(shhhhh - financial)health!! Especially since the medicalization of menopause has slipped from their grasp.

Anyway, hope you're feeling more comfortable and thank you for taking the time and effort to continue your postings.

Sent by Dawn Whitehead | 10:04 PM ET | 04-07-2008

Yes, the drs are very keen on drugs, sometimes they forget about a diagnosis but tend to try to drug first, maybe it will alieve the symptoms so you can forget why you came in the first place. Mine is pushing anti depressant drugs right now. I've refused but finally took the prescription to appease him. I don't take the pills, I just took the prescription. Yes, I am depressed, the love of my life is no longer with me after 35 years, how am I supposed to feel. I function and I think that's okay. No, I'm not happy, I don't have fun and that's what the dr wants of me. So for the time being I'm learning to live with the neuropathy in my legs, they don't know what is causing it, but if I take enough gabopentin and sleeping pills, I guess I can live with it. I'm sorry if I sound a little discouraged right now, but I am. I watched them pump the chemo and radiation into my husband and watching him waste away. I know that is not their fault, it's the disease. I praise those that can "lick" this disease and agonize over those that can't. Leroy, your will is strong and I admire you for that. Rob's will was strong too until it became too much.

Sent by Cindy | 5:18 AM ET | 04-08-2008